The Duke and Duchess of Rothesay made their first official visit to the Isle of Bute, highlighting the power of community, connection, and volunteering as they met with locals and organisations that give their time to support and care for fellow islanders.
The Duke and Duchess of Rothesay, as Prince William and Catherine are referred to while in Scotland, visited the Isle of Bute to hear about the important small everyday interactions that build resilient and connected communities on the island. They also met those working to protect the natural environment on Bute, an issue close to both Their Royal Highnesses’ hearts.
On their first engagement of the day, the Prince and Princess visited Bute Shinty Club in Rothesay, where shinty, one of Scotland’s oldest traditional sports, has been played for generations. Played with a curved wooden stick, known as a caman, and a small leather ball, shinty has long been part of Bute’s heritage, with the Buteman Cup contested on the island since 1900.
Picture by Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace
The Prince and Princess were all smiles as they headed to the pitch to watch training activities and meet some of the young players. The couple also took part in the traditional game of shinty. Prince William went first and missed, but recovered cleanly with a second shot. After her turn, Catherine remarked, “I was a bit worried I was going to take someone’s teeth out!”
The two later met representatives from the club’s senior and youth teams before spending time with volunteers and former players in the clubhouse, built by members of the local community and housing team photographs dating back to 1907.
Picture by Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace
William and Catherine then visited Ettrick Bay to meet the team behind Beachwatch Bute. During their time on the coastline, the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay learned about the team’s efforts to protect and preserve one of Bute’s most picturesque beaches. Their Royal Highnesses joined a Beach Ranger and other supporters of the charity for a litter pick, where they heard about the community’s role in safeguarding the local environment.
Picture by Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace
For almost 30 years, Beachwatch Bute has helped keep the island’s beaches free from litter and marine waste, coordinating clean-up activities to ensure they remain safe, accessible and thriving for both wildlife and local communities. The charity relies on volunteers from across the island, whose support is central to its work.
On their final engagement in Scotland on Thursday, the Prince and Princess visited the community-owned Anchor Tavern Pub and Hub in Port Bannatyne. The couple joined in celebrating the role of everyday social connections in building resilient, connected communities.
During the visit, the Duke and Duchess met with community members whose efforts helped secure the future of the Anchor Tavern, as well as groups that regularly use the facilities, including the local dominoes club. The future King and Queen also greeted locals outside, including many schoolchildren.
Picture by Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace
The Anchor Tavern was purchased by the Port Bannatyne Development Trust in 2021, after its closure in 2020 left a significant gap in village life. A group of local residents, over half of whom are from the Port, established the Trust and reopened it in April 2022 after considerable refurbishment.
Today, it once again serves as a cornerstone of the community. Local people also now benefit from the neighbouring former off-licence, which the Trust transformed into a community hub. The Hub provides a flexible space for a wide range of community groups, events, gatherings and local services.
Be the first to comment on "William and Catherine visit the Isle of Bute"